Cento61 — Modern Cafe'+
CENTO61 PUBLISHED IN THE VOLUME MODERN CAFE'+
The project stems from the renovation of an old restaurant located in a historic building of the early 1900s, following the client's intention to create "a special venue with a light, informal atmosphere, that becomes a regular meeting place for Palermo's residents to eat, drink, share and return". The venue is introduced by a large outdoor space and then develops across 130 sqm of interior at a lowered level of 1.50 m. "The design challenge was to transform the basement we were dealing with into an airy space, enhancing the garden and choosing finishes and materials that amplify the interior brightness" the designers explain.
The large, century-old Cycas palm defines the pivot around which the garden design unfolds, articulated through simple elements on different levels: at street level, a kind of long counter and tall metal stools overlook the lower level where metal tables and ample wooden seating give rhythm to the space. White-painted metal – as a tight mesh and as framework – is the constant design signature throughout the venue's various spaces; an element with industrial echoes, here applied to the walls as a neutral backdrop so as to accentuate the brightness and the fluid, continuous perception of the space.